46. Going to the Station

The hours passed quickly and soon it was time to go to the station.  Ferdinand Bear looked very smart with his fur neatly brushed and his blue tie straightened with a newly tied knot.  Merlena Bear came in and said,  "Ferdinand, this is for my kindest cousin in all the world to eat on the train in case he gets hungry along the way" and she gave him a cheeky wink as she handed over a little blue bag full of cookies.  Ferdinand peeped into the bag and his face lit up as he said, "Why, thank you, Merlena, you are my kindest cousin in all the world!"  "Time to go now," said Hernando Bear, "it is quite a long way to the station and the next tram leaves in a few minutes."   Theodore Bear was looking forward to seeing all the trains.  "I will watch very carefully what all Ferdinand does," he thought to himself, "It is a very long time since I have been on a train and maybe I will do that again soon."

45. Ferdinand Bear's Decision

The next morning Theodore Bear was the first one in the house to wake up.  He got up, stretched and tip-toed quietly across to look out of the kitchen window.  The sun was shining brightly again and the neighbor's cat was sitting on a fence post watching their dog digging for a bone.  It did not take long until all the other bears were up too and they sat in the garden to eat breakfast.  They stayed chatting for a good while about all they had seen and done and then Ferdinand Bear spoke up.   "Merlena", he said,  "I am so glad I was able to come and celebrate your birthday and spend these few days with you but now it is time for me to go home again.  I need to attend to my garden and my fish pond.  I must catch the train this afternoon."  "Thank you so much for coming, Ferdinand, it was lovely to have you here," Merlena Bear said.  "We will all come to the station with you and see you off."

44. Good-byes

Shelley took her Mummy's hand and said, "Good-bye, Merlena Bear, good-bye Hernando Bear, good-bye Ferdinand Bear and good-bye Theodore Bear.  I hope you will enjoy the rest of your holiday in the city.  I will have to go to school again tomorrow but I will tell all my friends in the class about this lovely day."   "Good-bye, Shelley, we enjoyed having you come with us" the bears all said together and their sad voices sounded extra deep and growly.  Shelley and her Mummy slowly walked away.  Before they turned the corner to the next row of shops Shelley turned around to wave to the bears for the last time and then they could not see her any more.  "Let's go home now," said Merlena, "somehow I don't feel like sight-seeing any more today."  The other bears nodded silently and they walked out of the shopping mall together.

43. Back at the Mall

The little group walked briskly back through the Mayor's Arcade and found their way to the same shops where they had been when Shelley came and spoke to Merlena Bear.  "Phew!  At least we are not late," said Ferdinand Bear and looked around.  "Look, there is my Mummy coming now.  She is also not late," said Shelley and waved to her.  Then she turned to speak to the bears.   Her face looked sad but she bravely tried to give them a bright smile.  "Thank you, all my Special Bear Friends, for a wonderful, wonderful day that I will always remember.  Thank you for taking me with you and sharing your lunch with me.  Thank you for all you told me and thank you for so much fun playing games together.  I love you all," and she gave each bear a big, tight hug and they hugged her in return.  Ferdinand just nodded his head but Hernando Bear saw Merlena wipe a tear away. Theodore gave a weak smile and said, "I guess that is what you would call a bear hug."

42. The Race

All of a sudden Ferdinand Bear held up his paws and said,  "Oh my, look at the time. We have all enjoyed being here so much but in a few minutes we have to be back at the mall to meet Shelley's mother.  It is very rude to keep somebody waiting when you have an appointment."  The bears quickly brushed all the little grass pieces out of their fur and Shelley shook the dust off of her skirt.  Theodore Bear picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.  "Let us have a race to the bottom of the steps," Ferdinand said and they all set off at a fast pace.  Shelley reached the steps first and poor Theodore came last!  "I could not run so fast with this backpack on my back," he said sheepishly and they laughed and hurried up the steps all out of breath.